Transport cart for ballast block

Abstract

A transport cart for transporting a ballast block upon a ground surface by a user. The ballast block has a front, rear, top, bottom, and has a plurality of fastening openings on the top. The transport cart has a main frame having a pair of parallel side members, a wheel assembly, a pair of overhead frames attached between the side members, and a cross member attaching the overhead frames. A lifting mechanism is attached to the cross member and includes a lifting arm extending parallel to the side members, and a pair of engagement plates attached to the lifting arm. The engagement plates fasten to the fastening openings on the top of the ballast block. The lifting arm is raised by rotating a handle to raise the block above the ground surface, whereupon the ballast block may be moved along the ground surface using the wheel assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transport cart, for lifting and moving a ballast block upon a ground surface, the ballast block having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom, and having mounting holes on the top, comprising:
 a main frame having a pair of side members that extend parallel to each other, the side members each having a first end and a second end, a pair of overhead frames that extend parallel to each other and attach to the side members, the overhead frames each having a pair of vertical members that are each attached to one of the side members and a horizontal member that extends between the vertical members, the main frame further having a cross member attached and extending between the horizontal members, wherein the overhead frames create an opening below the horizontal members so that the main frame is adapted for extending over the ballast block with said ballast block beneath the horizontal members; 
 a wheel assembly attached to the frame, adapted for supporting and moving the frame upon the ground surface and positioning the horizontal members directly above the ballast block; and 
 a lifting mechanism including a lifting arm centered between and parallel to the horizontal members of the overhead frames, a main shaft having a threaded portion and extending through the cross member, a threaded sleeve that is internally threaded, a handle that is rigidly attached to the threaded sleeve, the lifting arm attached to the main shaft, the handle for selectively raising and lowering the lifting arm by rotating the main shaft and interacting the threaded portion with the threaded sleeve, the lifting arm having a pair of engagement plates adapted for securing to the mounting holes of the ballast block so that when the lifting arm is raised, the block is lifted above the ground surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The transport cart as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lifting arm has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the engagement plates are attached to the bottom surface, and wherein each engagement plate has a pair of ends and a vertical bore near each of the ends. 
     
     
       3. The transport cart as recited in  claim 2 , wherein one of the overhead frames is attached near the first ends of the side members and the other of the overhead frames is attached near the second ends of the side members. 
     
     
       4. The transport cart as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising four fastener rods, each of the fastener rods adapted for extending through one of the mounting holes in the ballast block, and through one of the vertical bores in one of the engagement plates. 
     
     
       5. The transport cart as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the wheel assembly includes four caster wheels, the caster wheels located at the first and second end of each of the cross members, and wherein the frame is adapted to accommodate the block fully between the side members so that the weight of the ballast block is always located between the caster wheels. 
     
     
       6. The transport cart as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the handle has a center and the lifting arm has a center, wherein the main shaft extends through the center of the handle and the center of the lifting arm, and wherein the main shaft is threaded so that raising and lowering the lifting arm is accomplished by rotating the handle around the center of the handle. 
     
     
       7. A transport cart for use upon a ground surface, comprising:
 a ballast block having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and mounting holes on the top; 
 a main frame having a pair of side members that extend parallel to each other, the side members each having a first end and a second end, a pair of overhead frames that extend parallel to each other and attach to the side members, the overhead frames each having a pair of vertical members that are each attached to one of the side members and a horizontal member that extends between the vertical members, the main frame further having a cross member attached and extending between the horizontal members, wherein the overhead frames create an opening below the horizontal members so that the main frame for extending over the ballast block with said ballast block beneath the horizontal members; 
 a wheel assembly attached to the frame, adapted for supporting and moving the frame upon the ground surface and positioning the horizontal members directly above the ballast block; and 
 a lifting mechanism including a lifting arm centered between and parallel to the horizontal members of the overhead frames, a main shaft extending through the cross member, and a handle for selectively raising and lowering the lifting arm by rotating the main shaft, the lifting arm attached to the main shaft, the lifting arm having a pair of engagement plates, the lifting mechanism including fastener rods adapted for securing the mounting holes of the ballast block to the engagement plates so that when the lifting arm is raised, the block is lifted above the ground. 
 
     
     
       8. The transport cart as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the lifting arm has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the engagement plates are attached to the bottom surface, and wherein each engagement plate has a pair of ends and a vertical bore near each of the ends. 
     
     
       9. The transport cart as recited in  claim 8 , wherein one of the overhead frames is attached near the first ends of the side members and the other of the overhead frames is attached near the second ends of the side members. 
     
     
       10. The transport cart as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the fastener rods are threaded rods adapted for extending through one of the mounting holes in the ballast block and through one of the vertical bores in one of the engagement plates, and further comprising a nut associated with each of the fastener rods for engaging and securing to said fastener rod. 
     
     
       11. The transport cart as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the wheel assembly includes four caster wheels, the caster wheels located at the first and second end of each of the cross members, and wherein the frame is adapted to accommodate the block fully between the side members so that the weight of the ballast block is always located between the caster wheels. 
     
     
       12. A method of transporting a ballast block upon a ground surface by a user, the ballast block having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom, and mounting holes on the top, using a transport cart as recited in  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 engaging the ballast block with the lifting arm; 
 fastening the ballast block to the lifting arm; 
 lifting the ballast block by raising the lifting arm to a raised position; and 
 moving the ballast block across the ground surface by pushing the frame by the user. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of transporting a ballast block as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the steps as recited are preceded by the step of positioning the lifting assembly and the overhead frames over the top of the block, and wherein the step of engaging the ballast block with the lifting arm further comprises lowering the lifting arm by operating the handle. 
     
     
       14. The method of transporting a ballast block as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the handle has a center and the lifting arm has a center, wherein a main shaft extends through the center of the handle and the center of the lifting arm, and wherein the step of lowering the lifting arm by operating the handle further comprises rotating the handle around the center of the handle. 
     
     
       15. The method of transporting a ballast block as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the lifting assembly includes a pair of engagement plates, each engagement plate having a pair of vertical bores, wherein the lifting arm has a pair of opposite ends, one of the engagement plates is attached at each of the opposite ends; wherein the step of positioning the lifting assembly and the overhead frames over the top of the block further comprises aligning the vertical bores of the engagement plates with the mounting holes of the block; and wherein the step of fastening the ballast block to the lifting arm further comprises extending a fastener rod through one of the vertical bores and through one of the mounting holes.